The title could be describing me on my bike a couple of twenty mile rides recently and it certainly is hot! I was really referring to my effort to steal two runs while batting at cricket to a young and fit cricketer. I lost the race! Good to play with much younger players and I was impressed by the standard of fielding by my team mate.

I mentioned cycling and at this time of year we are avid viewers of the Tour de France. It is a fascinating race and the endurance of the riders is impressive.

Tomorrow I have a meeting in Tewkesbury about a summer project.

Told an old favourite tonight at Wick Court an old Russian Trick Tale. Over a number of tellings I have added many extra parts and I play around with stereotypes. I do get fond of certain stories!

Took another two groups of young people from Vauxhall Bird Watching today at Wick Court (playing catch up from yesterday!) A highlight was two Oystercatchers flying up the river a first sighting for us at Wick Court. Surprisingly we have one turning up regularly on our cricket field throughout this last week.

Finally I have been asked to play cricket for my club on Saturday – a young man’s game!

Have to mention the cricket. What a wonderful Test Match and unbelievable run chase. It has been breathtaking to watch. I am at the Oval in September for another day at the Test. I also thoroughly enjoyed my cricket where we had a comprehensive victory against the league leaders Oxfordshire.

Only did a partial session at Wick Court bird watching today because we had a royal visitor which disrupts everything so I am going back tomorrow morning. Will shoot back to Story Tell in the evening.

Well a lot has been happening in the last few days so I have little time to write anything.

Friday was spent being “Gramps” down in Exeter with my delightful granddaughter Ellen. It is certainly tiring travelling down for the day and then being an active grandparent! We try and visit both our grandchildren regularly.

Saturday I was at the Test Match sadly most of the time was spent dodging the showers. However, I did see the most expensive over in Test Match!

Yesterday I was Story Telling at the National Trust’s Coleshill Estate for what was really a mini festival. Picture below.

Today I cycled to Stroud Valley Primary School to do a Story Workshop/ Book Promotion. Stroud Valley was the first school I worked in although now it is on a different site.

Finally watched our Peter run the Frampton 10K tonight he posted his best time for a 10K. Picture of him below.

This morning doing the monthly bird survey out by the River we counted 102 Avocets!! Every now and then they flew up and looked wonderful in the morning sun! The picture above doesn’t really do justice to the spectacle. Also 16 Oystercatchers, 88 Shelducks with assorted Gulls, Curlews and Godwits. I think it is probably the most Avocets I’ve seen together, the recovery of this iconic bird is a good news story! We also saw quite a few Whitethroats (picture below) and Lesser Whitethroats. Yesterday with the young people from Orpington  at Wick Court we saw 24 species including the first Greenfinch we have seen in a few years there.

You will have noticed I haven’t written that much recently because I have been so busy. We were a very poor second on Tuesday away to Worcestershire I blame the captain who lost the toss!

Last night a group of us went down to Bristol to see the legendary Judy Collins perform. One of the incentives to travel down because Dan Everett (the musical half of The Two Severn Bores) was part of the supporting act. Dan and I are currently collaborating on a a new show for the Autumn. Judy Collins was brilliant and her voice was still superb and she was a real presence on stage. I found I was quite emotional listening to her wide repertoire of songs.

Sadly missed a meeting about the summer today as I struggled to get the car going. An embarrassing moment as it was working fine later.

I have spent time preparing stories for the weekend and managed to watch the cricket. It has been wonderful watching England play Test Cricket this summer you have to pinch yourself when watching! I am off to Edgbaston on Saturday to watch the India Test.

I am playing against Worcestershire tomorrow and once again I have lost players at the last minute.

Took my frustration after my hiccups out later with a cycle ride over the tops later.

Just booked tickets to see Dan Everett (my partner in crime when we are the Two Severn Bores) supporting the legendary Judy Collins in Bristol. We have a group of us from Book Club (Dan is also a member) going down for the Gig. I am actually meeting Dan for a drink tonight to plan our September Gig and also for our new show we are hoping to do in late Autumn. The picture below is The Two Severn Bores performing last year (have had this pic in a previous blog!)

Had a lovely day yesterday visiting my grandson Owen in Maidenhead. It is a real delight he knows us well now (he is nearly 17 months old ) and goes with us confidently. We are seeing our granddaughter Ellen later in the week.

We have just said goodbye to Jake a small friendly charismatic Jack Russell who we have been looking after for 36 hours. It does mean you get out and about much more. We are looking after him again for a week in August.

Had my regular Story Telling slot at Wick Court last night. I told a Japanese Folk Tale that I know well.

Now having to knuckle down on learning stories for some up and coming gigs.

We are now busy planning our trips around football. There are only two grounds in the Championship I haven’t visited watching the Mighty Hatters so we are aiming to remedy that so it is Burnley in early August.

Using classic Bob Marley for today’s title. After my musings on Monday about the cricket we had a super win against Buckinghamshire- lucky the captain got the important calls right! He (me) called tails on a boiling hot day and batted!

Another hot day today bird watching at Wick Court with young people from Southwark. One question I was asked today “which is your least favourite bird?” My prejudices came to the fore with my answer! The Romans were to blame! (answer in the next blog). We had 3 Red Kites normally in this part of the world you only see single birds although much more frequently.

Wonderful cycle ride over the tops today-weather was just right – warm but not uncomfortable.

Quite a bit of the day has been taken up with trying to sort out the Gloucestershire Seniors cricket team for tomorrow- injuries, covid and old age has ravaged all our teams. My team against Buckinghamshire is looking “interesting”- fingers crossed there is no more upheaval before tomorrow!

Still hearing Cuckoos calling which seems quite late.